How did Americans react to Jackson's Native American policy?
For many it was something happening to other people in another place and had little affect on most Americans. As people began to move west they wanted the Native American lands, so the act made it official that the tribes were to be removed.
Those desiring to move westward and wanting good land, were happy that the Indians were being moved out of the way. A minority saw the action for what it was and did what they could to assist, hiding Indians, assisting them with food and shelter and even traveling with them.
From the very moment of the first colony the European settlers did their best to kill, remove, or displace the Native tribes from their lands. The government made treaties they broke and they forcibly removed people to reservations. The Federal army would go into a sleeping village early in the morning and kill men, women, and children. The unofficial government policy was a " good Indian was a dead one" and they would do anything to accomplish this task. Read Black Elk Speaks or Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee for further understanding of the genocide that was committed.
